Jets wide receiver Jeremy Kerley happy to have his new deal 'out of the way'
Jets wide receiver Jeremy Kerley celebrates a second-quarter touchdown against the Chicago Bears during a game at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 22, 2014 in East Rutherford, N.J. Credit: Getty Images / Al Bello
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Jeremy Kerley reported to work Wednesday with the ink just dry on a four-year contract extension worth a reported $16 million.
So what was the first thing he planned to do with the money?
"Bentleys for everybody," Kerley said.
A fleet of luxury cars showing up at Jets camp seems unlikely because the guaranteed portion of the wide receiver's deal is $5.4 million. But Kerley is happy to have some job security.
"A little bit," he said. "It's just good for me and my family. So we've got that out of the way. Now it's just time to go play."
Kerley, 25, was a fifth-round pick out of TCU in 2011. A favorite target of Geno Smith, he has 22 catches for 201 yards and a touchdown this season. He led the Jets in receptions (43) and yards (523) in 2013. He also had a team-best 56 receptions for 827 yards in 2012.
Smith said: "I just congratulated him. I am very proud of him, very happy to see that he got the deal done, working toward the future. I just want to continue to progress with him and allow our chemistry to get better."
"I am just very happy for him because I know how hard he has worked and I really think he deserves it."
Overall, Kerley has 150 receptions for 1,865 yards and seven touchdowns in 49 games. He would have been an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
The Jets announced the extension on Tuesday, a day after they introduced receiver Percy Harvin, who was acquired in a trade with the Seahawks. Kerley, Harvin and Eric Decker could be a formidable trio for Smith to throw to if everything breaks right for the Jets.
"First thing I thought when we got [Harvin] was, 'Just another playmaker,' '' Kerley said. "The things that he brings to the table is amazing. So it just helps Geno out, helps this offense out and gives us a better chance to win."
Kerley said the extension talks have been "back and forth for a little while. But I'm glad that it got done in the time that it got done. It feels good to be here for hopefully another four years."
Next up for general manager John Idzik: possible extensions for defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, running back Bilal Powell and linebacker David Harris.
With Kimberley A. Martin
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
